PRESTATYN Town could be without three key players for this afternoon’s visit of Port Talbot – but Seasiders’ manager Neil Gibson has full faith in his squad’s ability to cope.

Defenders Dave Hayes and Paul O’Neill are battling to be fit, as well as top scorer Lee Hunt, but never has the strength-in-depth of the Prestatyn ranks been so evident as in the past week.

Centre-back duo Hayes and O’Neill missed Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Bala Town after picking up injuries in last Friday’s win at Airbus, but debutant Adam France had a superb game alongside converted front man Steve Rogers in the Seasiders rearguard.

And striker Jon Fisher-Cooke celebrated only his second league start of the season by scoring twice to sink the Lakesiders.

The win kept Prestatyn fourth in the table and if they beat Port today and results go their way elsewhere, the Bastion Gardens outfit will secure their place in the top six for the second half of the season.

Town were 3-0 winners at Talbot back in October, a success which ended a run of five straight away league defeats and kickstarted a sequence of brilliant results which have lifted Gibson’s charges into their present lofty position.

“We’ve done fantastically well so far, but now we’ve got to finish it off,” stressed the player-boss.

“It’s been our way in the past to make things a little bit difficult for ourselves, so there’s no way we’ll be counting our chickens.

“I’m aware that if we win on Saturday and other results go in our favour we will be secure in the top six, but before we can start thinking about that there’s Port Talbot to deal with first.

“It will be nothing less than a massive test. Mark Jones (Port manager) always leads good, well-organised football teams; they will be determined to push for the top six and will be hurting after what we did at their place.

“But our players are really looking forward to it; we’re on a great run and thrive on these sort of games.”

Gibson’s decision on the final line-up will be left as late as possible.

“Dave Hayes has tweaked a thigh muscle, Paul O’Neill has some deep bruising after the knocks he picked up at Airbus, but every day he’s getting better, while Lee Hunt picked up an injury in the home game against Bangor but has been playing through the pain barrier, but it caught up with him against Bala after one particular tackle and he had to go off.

“I’d say all three are doubtful at this stage, but being the sort of players they are, they will all desperately want to play.”